Sam Gerrans - The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

Say thou: “Is it other than God I am to take as ally — the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth, and who feeds but is not fed?” Say thou: “I have been commanded to be first among those who submit”; and: “Be thou not among the idolaters.”

قُلْ اَغَيْرَ اللّٰهِ اَتَّخِذُ وَلِياًّ فَاطِرِ السَّمٰوَاتِ وَالْاَرْضِ وَهُوَ يُطْعِمُ وَلَا يُطْعَمُۜ قُلْ اِنّ۪ٓي اُمِرْتُ اَنْ اَكُونَ اَوَّلَ مَنْ اَسْلَمَ وَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمُشْرِك۪ينَ
Qul aghayra Allahi attakhithuwaliyyan fatiri assamawati wal-ardiwahuwa yutAAimu wala yutAAamu qul inneeomirtu an akoona awwala man aslama wala takoonanna minaalmushrikeen
#wordmeaningroot
1qulSayقول
2aghayraIs it other thanغير
3l-lahiAllah
4attakhidhuI (should) takeاخذ
5waliyyan(as) a protectorولي
6fāṭiriCreatorفطر
7l-samāwāti(of) the heavensسمو
8wal-arḍiand the earthارض
9wahuwawhile (it is) He
10yuṭ'ʿimuWho feedsطعم
11walāand not
12yuṭ'ʿamuHe is fedطعم
13qulSayقول
14innīIndeed I
15umir'tu[I] am commandedامر
16anthat
17akūnaI beكون
18awwala(the) firstاول
19manwho
20aslamasubmits (to Allah)سلم
21walāand not
22takūnannabeكون
23minaof
24l-mush'rikīnathe polytheistsشرك
  • Aisha Bewley

    Say: ‘Am I to take anyone other than Allah as my protector, the Bringer into Being of the heavens and the earth, He who feeds and is not fed?’ Say: ‘I am commanded to be the first of the Muslims,’ and, ‘Do not be among the idolaters. ’

  • Progressive Muslims

    Say: "Shall I take other than God as an ally; the initiator of heavens and Earth; while He feeds and is not fed!" Say: "I have been commanded to be the first who surrenders. " And do not be of those who set up partners.

  • Shabbir Ahmed

    Say, "Shall I take for my master other than Allah Who is the Initiator of the heavens and the earth? And He provides all without return. Feeds but is not fed." Say, " I have been commanded to be the foremost among those who surrender to Him and ascribe not divinity besides Him."

  • Sam Gerrans The Qur'an: A Complete Revelation

    Say thou: “Is it other than God I am to take as ally — the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth, and who feeds but is not fed?” Say thou: “I have been commanded to be first among those who submit”; and: “Be thou not among the idolaters.”

  • The Monotheist Group The Quran: A Monotheist Translation

    Say: "Shall I take other than God as an ally; the initiator of the heavens and the earth; while He feeds and is not fed!" Say: "I have been commanded to be the first who submits." And do not be of the polytheists.

  • Edip-Layth Quran: A Reformist Translation

    Say, "Shall I take other than God as an ally; the creator of heavens and earth; while He feeds and is not fed!" Say, "I have been commanded to be the first who peacefully surrenders." Do not be of those who set up partners.

  • Rashad Khalifa The Final Testament

    Say, "Shall I accept other than GOD as a Lord and Master, when He is the Initiator of the heavens and the earth, and He feeds but is not fed?" Say, "I am commanded to be the most devoted submitter, and, 'Do not be an idol worshiper.' "

  • Mohamed Ahmed - Samira

    Say: "Should I find some other protector besides God the Creator of the heavens and the earth, who nourishes all and is nourished by none? Say: "I am commanded to be the first to submit to Him, and not be an idolater. "

  • Sahih International (Umm Muhammad, Mary Kennedy, Amatullah Bantley)

    Say, "Is it other than Allah I should take as a protector, Creator of the heavens and the earth, while it is He who feeds and is not fed?" Say, , "Indeed, I have been commanded to be the first who submit and , 'Do not ever be of the polytheists. ' "

  • Muhammad Asad

    Say: "Am I to take for my master anyone but God, the Originator of the heavens and the earth, when it is He who gives nourishment and Himself needs none?" Say: "I am bidden to be foremost among those who surrender themselves unto God, and not to be among those who ascribe divinity to aught beside Him. "

  • Marmaduke Pickthall

    Say: Shall I choose for a protecting friend other than Allah, the Originator of the heavens and the earth, Who feedeth and is never fed? Say: I am ordered to be the first to surrender (unto Him). And be not thou (O Muhammad) of the idolaters.

  • Abul A'la Maududi Tafhim commentary

    Say: 'Shall I take for my guardian anyone other than Allah - the Originator of the heavens and earth; He Who feeds and Himself is not fed?'* Say: 'Surely I have been commanded to be the first among those who submit (to Allah) and not to be one of those who associate others with Allah in His divinity (even though others may do so).'

  • Abdel Khalek Himmat Al- Muntakhab

    Say to them: "Would I choose to be under the tutelage of any besides Allah Who has generated the heavens and the earth! He provisions all with the requisites of life while He is provisioned by no one nor is He contingent on, nor conditioned by, the material or the immaterial". Say to them: "I have been commanded to be the first who conforms to Islam and never to be one of those who incorporate with Him other deities".

  • Bijan Moeinian

    Say: "Why should I take other than the Originator of the heavens and the earth as my Protector? After all, is He not the One Who feeds and is not in need of being fed?" Say: "I am ordered to be the first in Islam (meaning submission to the Lord in Arabic) and distant myself from those who choose other than God as their Lords.

  • Al-Hilali & Khan

    Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): "Shall I take as a Walî (Helper, Protector, Lord or God) any other than Allâh, the Creator of the heavens and the earth? And it is He Who feeds but is not fed." Say: "Verily, I am commanded to be the first of those who submit themselves to Allâh (as Muslims)." And be not you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) of the Mushrikûn . (Tafsir Al-Qurtubi)

  • Abdullah Yusuf Ali

    Say: "Shall I take for my protector any other than Allah, the Maker of the heavens and the earth? And He it is that feedeth but is not fed." Say: "Nay! but I am commanded to be the first of those who bow to Allah (in Islam), and be not thou of the company of those who join gods with Allah."

  • Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran

    Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ "Will I take any guardian other than Allah, the Originator of the heavens and the earth, Who provides for all and is not in need of provision?" Say, “I have been commanded to be the first to submit and not be one of the polytheists.”

  • Taqi Usmani

    Say, "Would I take as guardian someone other than Allah Who is the Creator of the heavens and the earth, and Who feeds others, and is not fed by anyone?" Say, “I have been asked to be the first to submit (to Him) and never to be one of those who ascribe partners to Allah.”

  • Abdul Haleem

    Say, ‘Shall I take for myself a protector other than God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, who feeds but is not fed?’ Say, ‘I am commanded to be the first to devote myself .’ Do not be one of the idolaters.

  • Arthur John Arberry

    Say: 'Shall I take to myself as protector other than God, the Originator of the heavens and of the earth, He. who feeds and is not fed?' Say: 'I have been commanded to be the first of them that surrender: "Be not thou of the idolaters."'

  • E. Henry Palmer

    Say, 'Other than God shall I take for a patron, the Originator of the heavens and the earth? He feedeth men, but is not fed. ' Say, 'I am bidden to be the first of those resigned;' and it was said to me, 'Be not thou of the idolaters.'

  • Hamid S. Aziz

    Say, "Shall I take as a patron other than Allah, the Originator of the heavens and the earth? He feeds but is not fed. " Say, "I am bidden to be the first of those who Surrender;" and it was said to me, "Be not you of the idolaters."

  • Mahmoud Ghali

    Say, "Shall I take to myself as constant patron other than Allah, The Originator (Literally: The Renderer) of the heavens and the earth, and He is (The One) Who feeds, and is not fed?" Say, "Surely I have been commanded to be the first of the ones who have surrendered, " (i. e. who have become Muslims) and definitely do not be of the associators (i.e., those who associate others with Allah).

  • George Sale

    Say, 'Shall I take any protector other than Allah, the Maker of the heavens and the earth, Who feeds and is not fed?' Say, 'I have been commanded to be the first of those who submit. ' And be thou not of those who associate partners with Allah.

  • Syed Vickar Ahamed

    Say: "Shall I take as protector to myself anyone other than Allah, the Maker of the heavens and the earth? And it is He Who feeds but is not fed. " Say: "Surely not! For I am commanded to be the first of those who bow to Allah (in submission), and you be not of the company of those who join gods with Allah."

  • Amatul Rahman Omar

    Say, `Shall I take to myself a patron other than Allâh, the Originator of the heavens and the earth? It is He Who feeds but is fed by none. ' Say, `I have surely been commanded that I be the first of those who submit (to God).' (It has been said to them,) `Be not of those who associate partners with Allâh.'

  • Ali Quli Qarai

    Say, ‘Shall I take for guardian other than Allah, the originator of the heavens and the earth, who feeds and is not fed?’ Say, ‘I have been commanded to be the first of those who submit ,’ and never be one of the polytheists.